Boundary - Sakai

The former name of a town (Sakaimachi) in Sawa District, southeastern Gunma Prefecture. The area now occupies the southeastern part of Isesaki City, facing the Hirose River and Tone River, which are branches of the Tone River. The former Sakai Town was incorporated as a town in 1889 (Meiji 22). In 1955 (Showa 30), it merged with the villages of Uneme, Goshi, and Shima. In 1957, part of Serada Village was incorporated. In 2005 (Heisei 17), it was merged into Isesaki City. The Tobu Railway Isesaki Line, National Route 17 (Jobu Road), and Route 354 pass through the area. The name of the central settlement, Sakai, comes from the fact that it was once on the border between the counties of Sai and Nitta. During the Edo period, it developed as a post town on the Nikko Reiheishi Highway and a market town for cocoons and raw silk. Today, the northern Sakai Industrial Complex has been developed and the textile and electrical equipment manufacturing industries are thriving. Hiratsuka on the north bank of the Tone River was the terminus of the Copper Highway during the Edo period and bustled as a river port where copper produced at the Ashio Copper Mine was shipped for the imperial use. The "Akawanbushi" song of the upper class samurai is a type of Yagibushi song sung to a barrel accompanied by a red bowl. The Jusan Takarazuka ruins in Iyoku are a nationally designated historic site.

[Murakami Sadao]

"Sakaimachi Historical Materials" Complete 5 Volumes (1957-1964, Sakaimachi)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

群馬県南東部、佐波郡(さわぐん)にあった旧町名（境町(まち)）。現在は伊勢崎市(いせさきし)の南東部を占める地区で、利根(とね)川分流の広瀬川および利根川に臨む。旧境町は1889年（明治22）町制施行。1955年（昭和30）采女(うねめ)、剛志(ごうし)、島の3村と合併。1957年世良田(せらだ)村の一部を編入。2005年（平成17）伊勢崎市に合併。東武鉄道伊勢崎線、国道17号（上武(じょうぶ)道路）、354号が通じる。中心集落の境の地名は、かつて佐位(さい)・新田(にった)両郡の境界にあったことから名づけられ、江戸時代の日光例幣使(にっこうれいへいし)街道の宿場町、繭(まゆ)・生糸(きいと)の市場町として発達、いまは境北部工業団地なども造成され、繊維工業、電気機器製造業が盛んである。利根川北岸の平塚(ひらつか)は、江戸時代の銅街道(あかがねかいどう)の終点で、足尾(あしお)銅山生産の御用銅の積出し河岸(かし)（河港）としてにぎわった。上武士(かみたけし)の「赤椀節(あかわんぶし)」は樽(たる)に赤椀を添えて歌う八木節(やぎぶし)の一種。伊与久(いよく)にある十三宝塚遺跡は国指定史跡。

［村木定雄］

『『境町歴史資料』全5巻（1957～1964・境町）』

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